RUGBY: 1 DECEMBER 2017

Rugby Round-Up By JOCK HAYNES

Magpies elect office-bearers for 2018

Molong Rugby Club held its AGM last Tuesday — an unusually well attended event this year — with the main aim of electing an executive for 2018.

The major positions were filled as follows:

Patrons — Julia Welsh and Bob Sullivan

President — Greg Travis

Secretary — Karen Hobbs

Treasurer — Jock Haynes

Registrar — Rob Ferguson

It was pleasing to see the number of current players who put their hands up for committee positions.

The coaching team — Graeme Hobbs, Peter Evans and Mark Toynton — were also appointed to continue in their successful roles.

The draw for 2018 was revealed, and the ‘one-team towns’ competition is reverting back to a straight North and South format, with no Central Zone for the first part of the season as had been the case for the past couple of years.

Molong is in the Northern Zone, along with Yeoval, Trangie, Wellington, Geurie, Coolah and Orange Waratahs (revived from the Aggies’ ashes).

Though it doesn’t impact Molong, a second-tier competition has eventuated and is made up Rhinos, Narromine, Mudgee, Blayney, CSU Bathurst and Parkes.

In earlier unreported news, the Magpies held their inaugural Black & White Ball in late September at the Molong Showground. There were just under a hundred players and supporters who attended the event, at which they danced their way well into the night to music from Pig Iron Bob, after a great meal from Smoking Brothers.

The 2017 rugby awards were also presented during a break in the music.

President Greg Travis congratulated the players on their super season, falling just short in the grand final at Narromine. He also thanked the coaches, support staff, committee, sponsors and supporters.

Awards were presented to:

Most Promising — Matt Hobbs

Most Points — Will Oldham

Most Improved — Rob Ferguson

Coaches’ Award — Zac White, Josh Peffer

Player’s Player — Blake Hutchinson

Best & Fairest — Blake Hutchinson

Junior Clubperson — Joe Reid

Senior Clubperson  — Charlotte Orr, Graeme Hobbs

The club would also like to take this opportunity to thank all of their supporters, social members and sponsors, as well as the Molong Express and Molong Online for promoting the Magpies throughout the season. Hopefully the team can go that one step further in the revamped draw.

The 2017 sponsors were:

— Oilsplus

— Ray White Emms Mooney

— Freemason’s Hotel

— Andrew & Jenny Green

— Noonee Angus

— Cabonne Constructions

— Coronga White Suffolks

— Komatsu

— Molong Pharmacy

— Yates Baker McLean

— Minna Murra Building Supplies

— McCarron Cullinane

— Reids Transport

— Parkview Hotel

— Pac-Crete

— First Choice Credit Union

— Bridgestone Service Centre